Roasted Pepper & Mozz Cavatappi Bake

🥘 Ingredients

• bell pepper
  1 unit
• butter
  1 tbsp
• cavatappi pasta
  4 oz
• chili flakes
  ½ tsp
• chives
  1 bunch
• cream cheese
  2 oz
• fresh mozzarella
  2 oz
• marinara sauce
  1 c
• olive oil
  1 tbsp
• panko breadcrumbs
  ¼ cup
• pepper
  ¼ tsp
• salt
  ½ tsp
• water
  ½ cup

🍳 Cookware

• large pan
• baking sheet
• medium pot
• baking sheet
• small bowl
• large pan

1. 

   1

   large pan and baking sheet ready. Preheat oven to 400°F with rack on top position. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Halve bell pepper lengthwise, remove stem and seeds. Thinly slice chives . Tear fresh mozzarella into bite-size pieces.

   bell pepper: 1 unit, chives: 1 bunch, fresh mozzarella: 2 oz
2. 

   2

   Rub each bell pepper half with a drizzle of olive oil . Season with salt and pepper . Place on a baking sheet , cut sides down. Roast on top rack until softened and lightly charred ⏱️ 20 minutes .

   olive oil: 1 tbsp, salt: ½ tsp, pepper: ¼ tsp
3. 

   3

   Place butter in a small bowl . Microwave until just melted ⏱️ 30 seconds . Stir in panko breadcrumbs and season with a pinch of salt.

   butter: 1 tbsp, panko breadcrumbs: ¼ cup
4. 

   4

   Add cavatappi pasta to boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente ⏱️ 10 minutes . Drain and set aside.

   cavatappi pasta: 4 oz
5. 

   5

   Heat large pan over medium-high heat. Add marinara sauce , water , half the chives, a pinch of chili flakes , and a big pinch of salt. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer until slightly thickened ⏱️ 5 minutes . Turn off heat; stir in cream cheese until melted and combined. Season with salt and pepper.

   marinara sauce: 1 c, water: ½ cup, chili flakes: ½ tsp, cream cheese: 2 oz
6. 

   6

   Remove bell pepper from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer to a cutting board, then thinly slice. Heat broiler to high. Stir sliced bell pepper and drained cavatappi into pan with sauce. If sauce seems too thick, add a splash of water. Season with salt and pepper. > TIP: If your pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle pasta mixture with fresh mozzarella and panko breadcrumbs. Broil until cheese melts and panko is golden brown ⏱️ 4 minutes . Watch carefully to avoid burning.
7. 

   7

   Sprinkle pasta bake with remaining chives and as much remaining chili flakes as you like. Serve family style or divide between plates.